It can be difficult to judge what constitutes success for an arts festival. Sometimes, of course, it's the quality of its star attractions. Others might point to attendance figures. Those with an eye on finances would probably refer to the columns marked profit and loss. But surely not many organisers can be so inundated with interest that they start worrying they might wreck the historic building in which the festival is based. And that's exactly the predicament Alan Kirwan found himself in as the chief curator of one of the most interesting international jamborees of Middle Eastern culture, the Nour Festival of Arts.
"Last year," he laughs, "it got to the point where Leighton House, this amazing building with its incredible Arab Hall, couldn't deal with the number of people who wanted to come to our events. If the festival was to progress it needed to stretch out - otherwise the house would literally have been damaged."
And although Leighton House remains the focal point for the Nour Festival, which promises to deliver "dazzling contemporary artistic talent from the Middle East and North Africa", it has broadened its scope for its third year to encompass cultural venues across the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
"We're lucky that we have such a wealth of Middle Eastern institutions here," admits Kirwan, and to that end, the Mosaic Rooms host an exhibition of the leading contemporary Moroccan artist Abderrahim Yamou, the Mica Gallery showcases art inspired by and responding to Palestine and The Tabernacle presents music from Reem Kelani, Emel Mathlouthi and the Lebanese singer Charbel Rouhana. Even the prestigious V&A is involved, agreeing to place its important photography exhibition Light From The Middle East under the Nour banner.
The intention, says Kirwan, is to highlight the diversity of the Middle East through its arts and culture. "It's also about trying to destroy stereotypes," he adds. "In the three years of the festival we've noticed a real shift in the reactions and views of people who perhaps only saw awful news headlines when they thought about the Middle East. That doesn't mean that our artists won't investigate some of those political issues in their work, but first and foremost we're interested in supporting what they're doing as a contemporary craft."
Which is why the programming of the graphic designer and artist Muiz Anwar makes perfect sense. His first solo exhibition in the UK, Nuclear Nuqta, takes centre stage as Nour opens at Leighton House this week, and as a broad introduction to the full spectrum of his interest in graphic arts, including calligraphy, logo work, illustration - even magazine design - it's fascinating stuff.
"A lot of my work uses imagery that subverts stereotypes," Anwar says, putting the finishing touches to the exhibition. "As a Muslim and someone with a background from the Middle East, it's felt like there's a lack of opportunity to get messages heard. But since the revolutions, I certainly feel there's a more overt political platform within the arts."
One of the most interesting ways in which Anwar explores such issues is through his take on Arabic typography. His Morse Code Arabic series pushes Arabic to its legible limits, boiling down words such as Allah, Khadijah and Bismillah into circles and lines.
"My theory is, as long as my mum can decipher them, it's fine," he laughs. "It's actually good fun to try and decode them - it's my party piece, in a way. But it has a serious message, that Arabic typography is seen as very traditional, very static. And yet not everyone in the Middle East wears traditional dress; we're a globalised community. It's why festivals such as these are so important, to get these sorts of points across."
Apt, then, that the translation of Nour is illumination. It's a festival genuinely shining a light on the culture of the Middle East.
Five other Nour festival highlights
Dia Batal
Now based in the UK, this Palestinian designer and artist's tables, benches and artworks form part of her Translations series. All inspired in some way by Arabic text, these intriguing pieces are designed to be enjoyed and used rather than looked at from afar. She also presents a moving new installation inspired by the troubles in Syria.
November 6-30, Leighton House
Light From The Middle East: New Photography
The eagerly awaited exhibition of contemporary photography from or about the Middle East opens at the V&A next month - and now comes under the Nour Festival umbrella. Look out for National favourite Nermine Hammam, who is showing her brilliant series from Tahrir Square.
November 13-April 7, 2013, Victoria and Albert Museum
The London MENA Film Festival (LMFF)
More proof that Nour is spreading its wings comes with the London Middle East And North African Film Festival. The Short Film Night is of particular interest - it features four movies with connections to the UAE, including Mohamed Adeeb's Five Pounds, which won several international awards.
October 31-November 2, Leighton House
Attab Haddad Ensemble
The music strand is particularly strong this year, with appearances from Reem Kelani and the Tunisian songwriter Emel Mathlouthi. But one of the most fascinating concerts is by Attab Haddad, who takes his oud on a journey through jazz, while still evoking the sounds of the Middle East.
October 26, Leighton House
Supper Club
Proving that Nour isn't all about art, Sarah Al-Hamad - the author of Cardamom And Lime: Recipes From The Arabian Gulf - presents both a three-course meal and a high tea. Both events will explore the traditions and stories around cooking and eating Middle Eastern food, as well as offer the opportunity to prepare some of the dishes.
Dinner on October 11, secret venue. High Tea November 11, secret venue
. Nour Festival of Arts runs until November 30 at various venues in
London. www.nourfestival.co.uk
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows
Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.
Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.
The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.
After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.
The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.
The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.
But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.
It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
more from Janine di Giovanni
THE%20SPECS
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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The%20specs
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
AIDA%20RETURNS
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THREE
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LIKELY TEAMS
South Africa
Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.
India (from)
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
More on Quran memorisation:
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Score
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
New Zealand lead three-match ODI series 1-0
Next match: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Friday
LOVE%20AGAIN
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
match info
Southampton 0
Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')
Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)
Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers